Japanese Literary Awards

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Don Winslow

ドン・ウィンズロウ

Don Winslow

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1953-10-31 (New York)
Nationality
United States
Languages
English

Career

Occupations
Writer, Novelist
Active Years
1991-

Education

University of Nebraska
Journalism
Degree: 学士/修士(複数分野)
Country: United States
Reported to hold a BA in African history and an MA in military history; studied journalism at University of Nebraska. Exact years not specified here.

Awards

Edgar Award (Best First Novel)
1991
Work: A Cool Breeze on the Underground
Category: 処女長編賞
Organization: Mystery Writers of America (MWA)
Result: Nominee
Falcon Award
1994
Work: A Cool Breeze on the Underground
Organization: Malta Falcon Society
Result: Winner
Kono Mystery ga Sugoi! (ranking)
1995
Work: A Cool Breeze on the Underground
Organization: Takarajimasha (ranking)
Result: 2nd place
Barry Award (Best Novel)
1998
Work: The Death and Life of Bobby Z
Category: 長編賞
Organization: Barry Awards
Result: Nominee
Shamus Award (Best Private Eye Novel)
2000
Work: California Fire and Life
Category: 長編賞
Organization: Private Eye Writers of America (PWA)
Result: Winner
Hammett Prize (nominated)
2005
Work: The Power of the Dog
Organization: International Association of Crime Writers (North America)
Result: Nominee
Barry Award (Best Novel)
2006
Work: The Power of the Dog
Category: 長編賞
Organization: Barry Awards
Result: Nominee
Macavity Award (Best Mystery Novel - nominee)
2006
Work: The Power of the Dog
Category: 長編賞
Organization: Mystery Readers International
Result: Nominee
Japan Adventure Fiction Association Grand Prize
2009
Work: The Power of the Dog
Organization: Japan Adventure Fiction Association
Result: Winner
Shukan Bunshun Mystery Best 10 (ranking)
2009
Work: The Power of the Dog
Organization: Shukan Bunshun
Result: 2nd place
Kono Mystery ga Sugoi! (1st place)
2010
Work: The Power of the Dog
Organization: Takarajimasha (ranking)
Result: 1st place
Falcon Award
2010
Work: The Power of the Dog
Organization: Malta Falcon Society
Result: Winner
Deutscher Krimi Preis (translation category - 1st place)
2011
Work: The Power of the Dog (translation)
Organization: German Crime Award
Result: 1st place (translation)
Japan Adventure Fiction Association Grand Prize
2010
Work: The Winter of Frankie Machine
Organization: Japan Adventure Fiction Association
Result: Winner
Falcon Award
2011
Work: The Winter of Frankie Machine
Organization: Malta Falcon Society
Result: Winner
CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger (nominee)
2010
Work: Savages
Organization: Crime Writers' Association (CWA)
Result: Nominee
Deutscher Krimi Preis (translation category - 2nd place)
2012
Work: Savages (translation)
Organization: German Crime Award
Result: 2nd place (translation)
Falcon Award
2016
Work: Missing: New York (Frank Decker)
Organization: Malta Falcon Society
Result: Winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

A Cool Breeze on the Underground

1991 Hardboiled / Crime fiction

First novel in the Neal Carey series featuring a private detective shaped by the author's own experiences as an investigator; a hardboiled PI story.

private investigationcrimeviolence
Translations
  • A Cool Breeze on the Underground

The Power of the Dog

2005 Crime novel / Social thriller

A major novel addressing the US drug war, corruption and the underside of institutions; spans generations and perspectives to tell an expansive story about cartels and state actors.

drug tradestate-crime nexusrevengefamily and loyalty
Adaptations
  • [Film (planned)] The Power of the Dog (adaptation project) / Nicolai Arcel (planned)
Translations
  • The Power of the Dog

Savages

2010 Thriller / Crime

A tale of Southern California entrepreneurs and a Mexican drug cartel; explores friendship, violence and the entanglements of crime and love.

drug cartelsfriendshipviolencepower and corruption
Adaptations
  • [Film] Savages / Oliver Stone (2012)
Translations
  • Savages

The Dawn Patrol

2008 Action / Crime

A crime novel with strong action elements focusing on organized crime and personal conflict.

policeorganized crimeloyalty
Translations
  • The Dawn Patrol

The Death and Life of Bobby Z

1997 Action / Crime

A suspenseful story about a former boxer drawn into crime and conspiracy; adapted into a film.

identityconspiracyviolence
Adaptations
  • [Film] The Death and Life of Bobby Z / John Herzfeld (2007)
Translations
  • The Death and Life of Bobby Z

The Force

2017 Police procedural / Crime

A weighty police novel about corruption within a police force and the struggles for power inside it.

police corruptionpowerethics
Translations
  • The Force

Bibliography

  • A Cool Breeze on the Underground
  • The Trail to Buddha's Mirror
  • Way Down on the High Lonely
  • A Long Walk Up the Water Slide
  • While Drowning in the Desert
  • Isle of Joy
  • The Death and Life of Bobby Z
  • California Fire and Life
  • The Power of the Dog
  • The Dawn Patrol
  • Savages
  • The Winter of Frankie Machine
  • The Cartel
  • The Border
  • City on Fire
  • City of Dreams
  • City in Ruins
  • The Force
  • Broken
  • Missing: New York (Frank Decker)

Adaptations

  • The Death and Life of Bobby Z (2007 film)
  • Savages (2012 film)

Translations of Works

  • The Power of the Dog (Japanese translation: Kazunori Higashie)
  • Savages (Japanese translation: Kazunori Higashie)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
hardboiledsocial crime novelthriller-influenced narrative
Recurring Motifs
drugs and cartelscorruption of powerrevenge and loyaltyborders and crossing

Legacy

Don Winslow is an internationally recognized crime novelist known for socially engaged works about the drug war and police corruption. His books have been widely translated and several adapted for film and television, expanding his global profile.

In Popular Culture

  • Multiple film and TV adaptation projects have increased his visibility in popular culture.

Quotes

  • He has described himself as a writing addict in interviews.
    Source: SignOnSanDiego.com (interview, archived) (2008)

Trivia

  • As a child he moved frequently with his family's military postings (father was a navy noncommissioned officer).
  • There has been occasional confusion with another person of the same name relating to alleged pornography writing; Winslow has denied this.
  • The Power of the Dog received significant acclaim in Japan and internationally, earning several nominations and awards.